Celtic manager Neil Lennon reveals he wants to make Leigh Griffiths a European star

Good in green: Celtic want to sign former Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths from WolvesPhoto: PA

By Ewing Grahame

11:59PM GMT 27 Jan 2014

Celtic manager Neil Lennon broke with Parkhead policy on Monday to explain why he would continue to persuade Wolverhampton Wanderers to part with striker Leigh Griffiths.

Lennon normally refuses to discuss players who are under contract to other clubs but elected to ignore that tradition after news of their interest emerged from Molineux.

The League One club confirmed at lunchtime that they had rejected an initial offer for the Scotland player, whom they are in no rush to sell.

"We’ve had a bid from Celtic which has been formalised but the club have turned it down. We do understand every player has their price but we are not desperate to sell players here," said manager Kenny Jackett.

"Leigh has gone public to say he is interested in the Celtic situation as most Scottish lads would be when a club of that size come in.

“But the deal would have to be right for us and we will have to see how it goes. If not Leigh is still part of our squad and is with us for Oldham [on Tuesday] and Bradford on Saturday."

Lennon will not be easily dissuaded, however. Monday was the third anniversary of Griffiths’ £150,000 move from Dundee to Wolves but he did not start a league game for the Midlands club until this season, having spent two years on loan to Hibernian.

He scored 39 goals while playing for his boyhood heroes, helping them reach two Scottish Cup finals and winning the Scottish Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year award last year.

Jackett was the first manager to give him an opportunity in the first team and Griffiths has responded by becoming Wolves’ most potent threat. His 13 goals, however, have not helped him start more than two of their last nine matches.

Lennon, though, believes he is capable of nurturing and improving a player who has been guilty of misbehaviour on and off the pitch in the past.

“He’s a good player and I was very impressed with him last year,” he said. “Whenever we played Hibs you were always looking at him as a threat.

“His goal tally is impressive. Even though he’s not playing at the minute he’s still Wolves’ leading scorer.

“Leigh is only 23 so he’s the right age for us. That gives us a lot of scope. He’s maybe not up to Champions League standard yet but it’s up to us to turn him into that.

“Nor was Gary Hooper and nor was Scott McDonald when they first came here but what they do is they get the confidence from playing for Celtic and scoring goals and, when the elevation to the Champions League comes, they believe they can play at that level.”

Lennon failed in his attempt to land his first-choice (an as-yet unnamed striker currently playing abroad) last week but would not regard Griffiths as a consolation prize.

“If you look at his demeanour on the pitch, he’s very hard-working,” he said. “He isn’t a sulker, he never throws his hands in the air. He’s always on the move and he always hits the target with his shots.

“I think he’s matured into a very good player. I know there is baggage off the park but we can help him with that – we’ve all had it.

“When – or if – he comes here he’ll realise that he’s here for the football and not the controversy but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

“I’ll weigh him up as a personality. I’ve come across a few over the years and you just have to treat every individual on their own merits. It’s not a concern. There is a serious interest there.

“Wolves are tough negotiators. We know that from when we tried to get Kevin Doyle last year. So I’m not confident. But I am hopeful.”

Honduran left-back Emilio Izaguirre has been linked with a move to Everton, who are seeking cover for Bryan Oviedo, the Uruguayan who suffered a double fracture of his leg at Stevenage on Saturday, but Lennon insisted that he is not for sale.

“In the Champions League last season and this season he really put his mind to it,” he said. “His qualities shone through and he has been playing well domestically, too. So if there is interest I am not surprised. But is he for sale? No.”

St Johnstone have completed the loan signing of Stevenage midfielder James Dunne.

Tommy Wright has signed the 24-year-old until the end of the season after losing Murray Davidson to a knee injury for the rest of the campaign.

Dunne could make his debut in the League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen on Saturday after St Johnstone’s Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee United – scheduled to happen on Monday night – was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Tannadice.

The former Arsenal trainee told the Perth club’s official website: “I heard about the possibility of a move up to St Johnstone just under a week ago and on Friday night Stevenage said it looked like happening and allowed me to travel up.

“It’s disappointing tonight’s game is off as I was looking to being involved and of course it was to be televised. I’ll just need to try and impress in training to be in with a chance of being involved in the semi-final on Saturday.”

Dunne has made 59 appearances for Stevenage after arriving from Exeter 18 months ago but has fallen out of favour. “I’m not sure why I’ve not been included in recent weeks but I’m fit and available to play,” he said. “I think that this move to the SPFL is a step up in standard and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Wright added: “It’s good to have James on board. When Murray got injured, a replacement midfielder became important and I am pleased that we have been able to find the resources to bring James in.”

Dundee United’s clash with St Johnstone was postponed after an inspection on the Tannadice pitch carried found the surface to be unplayable. A new date for the rearranged fixture is yet to be announced.